Microcystin-LR inhibited hippocampal long-term potential via regulation of the glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway

We previously demonstrated that Cyanobacteria-derived microcystin-LR (MCLR) is able to induce cognitive dysfunction, but the mechanism is not understood. Long-term potential (LTP) in hippocampus is regarded as an important cellular mechanism of learning and memory. Here, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MCLR in LTP of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) by in vivo electrophysiological recording. We found that MCLR could suppress the induction of LTP in rat hippocampus, whereas simultaneous inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) by LiCl or SB216763 attenuated the LTP impairments by MCLR. Furthermore, a decrease of the phosphorylated level at Ser9 of GSK-3β was observed by western blotting after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of MCLR, indicating GSK-3β was activated by MCLR. In addition, we showed that ICV administration of MCLR slightly stimulated activity of protein phosphatases (PPs) in the brain, which might activate GSK-3β via dephosphorylation of Ser9 site. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that GSK-3β plays a crucial role in regulating MCLR-induced cognitive deficit.     

Microbial degradation of 17β -estradiol and 17α -ethinylestradiol followed by a validated HPLC-DAD method

This work aimed at studying the biodegradation of two estrogens, 17α -estradiol (E2) and 17β -ethinylestradiol (EE2), and their potential metabolism to estrone (E1) by microbial consortia. The biodegradation studies were followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detector (HPLC–DAD) using a specifically developed and validated method. Biodegradation studies of the estrogens (E2 and EE2) were carried out with activated sludge (consortium A, CA) obtained from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and with a microbial consortium able to degrade recalcitrant compounds, namely fluorobenzene (consortium B, CB). E2 was more extensively degraded than EE2 by CA whereas CB was only able to degrade E2. The addition of acetate as a supplementary carbon source led to a faster biodegradation of E2 and EE2. E1 was detected as a metabolite only during the degradation of E2. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of strains recovered from the degrading cultures revealed the presence of the genera Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium and Alcaligenes. The genera Pseudomonas and Chryseobacterium were retrieved from cultures supplied with E2 and EE2, while the genus Alcaligenes was found in the presence of E2, suggesting that they might be involved in the degradation of these compounds.     

Comparison of biochemical characteristics between PAO and DPAO sludges

A successful enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR) was observed in both anaerobicaerobic sequencing batch reactor(An-Ox SBR) to induce growth of phosphorus accumulating organism(PAO) and anaerobic-anoxic(An-Ax) SBR to induce growth of denitrifying PAO(DPAO).Although the EBPR performance of An-Ox SBR was higher by 11.3% than that of An-Ax SBR,specific phosphorus release rates in the An-Ax SBR(22.8 ± 3.5 mg P/(g VSS·hr)) and the An-Ox SBR(22.4 ± 4.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)) were similar. Specific phosphorus uptake rates under anoxic and aerobic conditions were 26.3 ± 4.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)(An-Ax SBR) and 25.6 ± 2.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)(An-Ox SBR), respectively, which were also similar. In addition, an analysis of relationship of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates(PHA) synthesized under anaerobic conditions with phosphorous release(Preleased/PHAsynthesized) and of PHA utilized under anoxic and aerobic conditions with phosphorous uptake(Puptaked/PHAutilized) verified that biological activities of EBPR per unit biomass between DPAO and PAO were similar. An analysis of the specific denitrification rate of DPAO showed that NO-3-N can be denitrified at a rate that does not substantially differ from that of an ordinary denitrifier without additional consumption of organic carbon when the PHA stored inside the cell under anaerobic conditions is sufficiently secured.     

Increased fetal nuchal translucency at 11–14 weeks

Nuchal translucency (NT) is the sonographic appearance of a subcutaneous collection of fluid behind the fetal neck. The measurement of fetal NT thickness at the 11–14-week scan has been combined with maternal age to provide an effective method of screening for trisomy 21; for an invasive testing rate of 5%, about 75% of trisomic pregnancies can be identified. When maternal serum free-β human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11–14 weeks are also taken into account, the detection rate of chromosomal defects is about 90%. Increased NT can also identify a high proportion of other chromosomal abnormalities and is associated with major defects of the heart and great arteries, and a wide range of skeletal dysplasias and genetic syndromes. In monochorionic twins, discordancy for increased NT is an early marker of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). As with the introduction of any new technology into routine clinical practice, it is essential that those undertaking the 11–14-week scan are adequately trained and their results are subjected to rigorous audit. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassemia in Southern Punjab,Pakistan

Pakistan has a large population of more than 150 million people with an overall carrier frequency of approximately 5.6% for β-thalassemia. Punjab is the largest province of the country having more than 50% of the population. The state of β-thalassemia is alarming as consanguinity is very high (>81%) and the literacy rate is low in South Punjab. A thalassemia prevention program is the need of the hour in this part of Pakistan. In this study, we initiated awareness, screening, and characterization of the mutations causing β-thalassemia as well as a genetic counseling program mainly in the districts of Faisalabad and D.G. Khan to establish prenatal diagnosis, a facility previously unavailable in this region for disease prevention. A total of 248 unrelated transfusion-dependent children and the available members of their families were screened to characterize the mutations and identify the carriers. Genetic counseling was provided to these families and prenatal diagnosis offered. In the samples analyzed, 11 β-thalassemia mutations and three hemoglobin variants were detected mainly by using the Monoplex and Multiplex ARMS-PCR. First-trimester prenatal diagnosis was carried out through chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in seven pregnancies at risk. As a result of our campaign, 145 carrier couples planning to have more children gave their consent to have retrospective prenatal diagnosis in every pregnancy in future. A cooperative trend and a positive attitude toward the prevention of β-thalassemia were noticed in the families with affected children and in the general population. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

雌二醇在土壤/沉积物中的吸附特征及猪粪DOM对吸附的影响

天然类固醇雌激素如17β-雌二醇(E2)在极低质量浓度下(ng.L-1)即可干扰水生生物的生殖功能.为准确预测E2向水体迁移,通过摇床实验研究了E2在中国北方3种不同土壤/沉积物表面的吸附特征,同时探讨了猪粪及其堆肥可溶态有机质(DOM)对E2吸附的影响.结果发现,E2在土壤/沉积物表面吸附符合Freundlich等温吸附方程(R2>0.76),E2在河流沉积物、潮土、黑土皆表现为非线性,其中黑土吸附的非线性最强(n=0.74);吸附系数Kf介于26.2～57.5,并与有机质含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05).猪粪及其堆肥DOM显著抑制E2在土壤/沉积物表面的吸附,其中堆肥DOM的影响尤为显著.研究认为,有机质是土壤/沉积物中吸附E2的主要组分,共存猪粪DOM在较低浓度下可提高E2迁移性,增加E2向地表和地下水的迁移风险.     

β-环糊精强化微生物修复石油烃污染土壤的试验研究

石油烃污染物的生物可利用性是土壤微生物修复的限制因素,为了提高污染物的生物可利用性和降解效率,引入环境友好的β-环糊精作为污染物增溶剂,并与表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)作对比。结果表明,当β-环糊精的投加浓度为其在水中饱和溶解度的90%、SDS的投加浓度为其临界胶束浓度时,β-环糊精和SDS对土壤中石油烃污染物的增溶效果达到最大,分别为84.42%和89.63%。虽然两者都具有相近的增溶效果,但SDS具有一定的生物毒性,抑制了微生物的生长及其对石油烃污染物的降解,而β-环糊精可以促进微生物生长并有效提高微生物对污染物的去除效率。投加β-环糊精的微生物修复组在15 d内的降解率达到19.5%,比单独微生物修复组的降解率提高了70%以上。     

Poly[β-(1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose] based zero valent nickel nanocomposite for efficient reduction of nitrate in water

Chemical reduction of nitrate using metal nanoparticles has received increasing interest due to over-dependence on groundwater and consequence health hazard of the nitrate ion. One major drawback of this technique is the agglomeration of nanoparticles leading to the formation of large flocs. A low cost biopolymeric material, poly [β-(1 → 4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose] (β-PADG) obtained from deacetylated chitin was used as stabilizer to synthesize zero valent nickel (ZVNi) nanoparticles. The β-PADG-ZVNi nanocomposite was characterized using infra red (IR), UV-Vis spectrophotometric techniques and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The morphology of the composite showed that β-PADG stabilized-ZVNi nanoparticles were present as discrete particles. The mean particle size was estimated to be (7.76 ± 2.98) nm and surface area of 87.10 m²/g. The stabilized-ZVNi nanoparticles exhibited markedly greater reactivity for reduction of nitrate in water with 100% conversion within 2 hr contact owing to less agglomeration. Varying the β-PADG-to-ZVNi ratio and the ZVNi-to-nitrate molar ratio generally led to a faster nitrate reduction. About 3.4-fold difference in the specific reaction rate constant suggests that the application of the β-PADG-stabilizer not only increased the specific surface area of the resultant nanoparticles, but also greatly enhanced the surface reactivity of the nanoparticles per unit area.     

白腐菌锰过氧化物酶对2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚的降解

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类在环境中普遍存在的全球性有机污染物,对这类污染物环境行为的研究虽然已有较多报道,但是微生物降解方面尤其是针对单一胞外酶降解的研究还比较少。文章以白腐菌模式菌种Phanerochaete chrysosporium为对象,研究其分泌的胞外酶锰过氧化物酶(MnP)对环境中最常检测到的2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE47)的好氧降解,考察不同β-环糊精浓度对该酶降解BDE47的影响,并初步探讨了胞内细胞色素P450的作用。结果表明,MnP能有效降解BDE47,在培养15 d后,扣除空白损失,降解率达到70%左右。低浓度和高浓度的环糊精对MnP降解BDE47无显著性影响。胞内细胞色素P450对BDE47的降解没有明显贡献。